https://www.si.com/nfl/chargers/news/chargers-titans-derrick-henry-running-back-defense-nfl-week-15

Chargers Focused on Not Letting Derrick Henry 'Get Started'

The Chargers have their sights set on Titans running back Derrick Henry
ahead of the Week 15 showdown.

Nicholas Cothrel
6 hours ago

Slowing down the opposing teams rushing attack has given the Chargers
fits this season as they've allowed an average of 147 rushing yards per
game.

However, they’re coming off a performance in which they limited the
Dolphins' ground game to 92 yards, putting together their second-best
outing against the run.

The Chargers have faced their share of quality rushers through the first
14 weeks. From Nick Chubb to Josh Jacobs and others in between, the
Chargers have struggled to bring down ball carriers at the point of
contact. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chargers defense has been
tallied with 125 missed tackles, averaging just under 10 per game.

After showing signs of taking a step in the right direction against
Miami, the Chargers will looks to duplicate their efforts in Week 15
against the Titans against one of the game's best rushers coming to town
in Derrick Henry.

“He's been one of the top players since he got into the league. He’s as
good of a college back as there’s been," Chargers coach Brandon Staley
said. "He’s the engine of that team, whether it’s running the ball,
whether it’s catching the football. He’ll catch a check-down off of
play-action and take it a long way, catch a screen. He’s very difficult
to tackle in space, where they can kind of clear some things out for
him. He just does it all at a high level."

Staley says one aspect of Henry's game that goes unnoticed is just how
fast he is. For a player who's as big as Henry is, listed at 6'3" and
247 pounds, he plays with plenty of burst, a combination that creates
difficulties in slowing him down.

While there's almost no formula to completely shut down Henry, the goal
for the Chargers will be to limit his production the best they can.
Staley says the key is not letting him gather momentum. Limiting Henry
in his tracks early before he gets up to top speed is one area the
Chargers have identified as a focus throughout their preparation.

“You can’t let good running backs get started," Staley said. "It doesn’t
matter what their style is, if they can get started within the play,
then they’re going to have a chance to be successful. It starts at the
front of your defense, at the point of attack, establishing the
penetration — the knock-back at the point of attack, making sure that
you have edges in your defense.

"Then, your second level has to be fitting where it needs to. Then, you
have to go attack and you have to go play team defense and tackle the
guy with more than one guy. That’s what we’re going to try and do on
Sunday.”

The Titans are certainly one of the more run-centric offenses in the
NFL. But in describing what Tennessee has shown on tape this season,
Staley referenced the experience they have at quarterback with Ryan
Tannehill under center.

"They’re a very good offense. They just play a style that’s different
than most nowadays, but it’s a very difficult style to defend," Staley
said. "They’re a team that’s had one of the top records in the AFC, now,
for five or six years. They’re a team that’s gone deep into the
playoffs. They have our full respect, and a big reason why is how they
play on offense.”

After navigating last Sunday's game without six of their defensive
starters, the Chargers could get back defensive lineman Sebastian
Joseph-Day (knee) and cornerback Bryce Callahan (groin), who were each
listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report.

Safety Derwin James (quad) was considered a non-participant on
Wednesday. Staley said James still remains day-to-day.

"We’re going to try and get him back, but we are definitely going to err
on the side of patience," Staley said of James' injury status. "We’ll
let his body talk to us.”